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Gene Simmons and Iron Maiden in the 1980s

Gene Simmons and Iron Maiden in the 1980s. Credit: Alberto Cabello/Publicity

Gene Simmons criticizes the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and the organization explains Iron Maiden's absence.

According to the president, it's only a matter of time before metal bands are included.

The list of artists included in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame promises to cause controversy for quite some time. The list of new inductions was released this Tuesday, the 12th, and left Iron Maiden out .

With Tina Turner, Fela Kuti , and Foo Fighters included in the famous hall of fame, several heavy metal artists expressed outrage at the absence of these giants, after 50 years of career and legacy. On social media, Gene Simmons of Kiss criticized the event. "It's a shame not to include [Iron] Maiden. Disgusting!"

Greg Harris , president and CEO of the Rock Hall of Fame, explained that the committee responsible for the decision is made up of artists, historians, members of the music industry, and fans, through an open public vote. It's worth remembering that Maiden came in fourth place in the voting, even above Foo Fighters.

“We [celebrate metal]. We celebrate all forms of rock n’ roll,” he explained to the Audacy program (via Loudwire). “They were nominated, we nominated Maiden, Judas Priest was nominated, we put Def Leppard in. Among the nominees, more than 80 percent are eventually inducted. So it’s really a question of, let’s keep nominating them, let’s put them on the ballot and take it to the voting body. There were 16 nominees [this year], you can’t include them all.”

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